KEY POINTS:
Michael Barnett
Chief executive, Auckland Chamber of Commerce
"Like it or not, New Zealand relies on foreign investment and I fear this decision could tarnish our reputation and cost us investment opportunities over and above the hundreds of millions of dollars local shareholders could have contributed to a sluggish economy."
Roger Kerr
Executive director, Business Roundtable
"The Government's move to impose additional restrictions on foreign investment was unjustified. In the very week that New Zealand has signed a free trade agreement with China - which is really an indication that we want to be an open and internationally connected economy - here we've put up the shutters on a bid for a New Zealand business."
Phil O'Reilly
Chief executive, Business NZ
"Just because of loud shouting by some, the Government has decided to play ducks and drakes - not only with international investors acting in good faith, but also with the retirement nest eggs of many New Zealanders and that should not be acceptable."
Bruce Sheppard
Chairman, Shareholders' Association
"It's overtly political - you can't own anything in New Zealand without running the risk that what you own will be picked up asa political toy for some expedient purpose of a misguided politician."
Mark Weldon
Chief executive, New Zealand Exchange
"Prior to this decision, NZX made the point that clarity was needed by markets as to the application of the Overseas Investment criteria. Now the time should be taken to examine the wider implications of this decision for capital markets, overseas and local investment and, more particularly, New Zealand ownership of New Zealand assets."
